Tag Archives: It’s not all online

Following on my posts about the changes in family history over the past 25 years I thought it would be good to look at family history resources beyond the internet and how we use them today. I’ve built up a list of 60 resources or activities that take our research beyond the digitised records (much as I do love them!). It will be interesting to see which resources people are using most, and perhaps tip off new researchers on just how much is hiding in archives. To draw up my list I’ve used my own experience and referred to Judy Webster’s Tips for Queensland research and the PROV’s book Private Lives, Public Records. New researchers might also be interested in theUnlock the Past bookIt’s not all onlineby Shauna Hicks.[i]

Overseas researchers may want to add to the list or replace items with ones relevant to their own research. Remember this is all about locating information from sources not on the internet (with a couple of small exceptions). Please add your responses to the comments and I’ll put up a consolidated list in due course.

Things you have already done or found: bold face typeThings you would like to do or find: italicize (colour optional)
Things you haven’t done or found and don’t care to: plain type
You are encouraged to add extra comments in brackets after each item

Looked at microfiche for BDM indexes which go beyond the online search dates.

Talked to elderly relatives about your family history.

Obtained old family photos from relatives.

Have at least one certificate (birth/death/marr) for each great-grandparent.

Have at least one certificate (birth/death/marr) for each great-great-grandparent.

Seen/held a baptism or marriage document in a church, church archive or microfilm.

Seen your ancestor’s name in some other form of church record eg kirk session, communion rolls.

Used any microfilm from an LDS family history centre for your research.

Researched using a microfilm other than a parish register (LDS family history centre/other).

Used cemetery burial records to learn more about your relative’s burial.

Used funeral director’s registers to learn more about your relative’s burial.

Visited all your great-grandparents’ grave sites.

Visited all your great-great-grandparents’ grave sites.

Recorded the details on your ancestors’ gravestones and photographed them.

Obtained a great-grandparent’s will/probate documents.

Obtained a great-great grandparent’s will/probate documents.

Found a death certificate among will documents.

Followed up in the official records, something found on the internet.

Obtained a copy of your immigrant ancestors’ original shipping records.

Found an immigration nomination record for your immigrant ancestor[iii].

Found old images of your ancestor’s place of origin (online or other).

Read all/part of a local history for your ancestor’s place of residence.

Aussie Rockstar Genie

Unique visits from 25 August 2012

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